Tag Archives: Hiking the PCT

Day 40 – Doc’s MIA and I’m talking to my backpack

June 11, 2013
20 miles today
Mile 761

Sierra Scene

Sierra Scene

Woke up warm and danced a prone jig. The plan hatched, delivered on to higher altitudes. Slithered out of my shelter and found a rock in the sun with just the right meadow view and wrote down the events of yesterday. Slack accused me of being a modern day Thoreau. If only. Wrote my two pages and slipped them into a Ziploc, along with the last nine days. AT&T is not fanatical about blanketing the PCT with cell phone coverage. Without which I can’t scan the pages and send them off to Cirina who types and posts them. Maybe from the top of Mt. Whitney, though an unfortunate wind would render memories lost.

Fell into the automatic rhythm of the morning-breakdown, oatmeal and pack and walk. Left a note for Doc. MIA as to future plans. What could have happened to him? He was leaving Kennedy Meadows right behind me. Maybe he had patients to attend to. Always the mysteries.

Fallen tree with swirls

Fallen tree with swirls


The trail passed through miles of a landscape of granite sand interspersed with boulders and bizarre pines, seeking purchase in the sand. Their root patterns so shallow that a good shove would seem to tip them. Their weathered color beyond my words, but within reach of a great painter. I was fascinated by the fallen pines with their twisted core nude to the world. I stopped repeatedly to stare at the tree ruins, no two ever alike. Lost in my inner world, it took awhile to register the snowballs whizzing past my head. Orbit, Slack and Red Beard had waited in ambush. Their aim questionable, their arms more so. I was uninjured.
Stone triangle captured by dragon

Stone triangle captured by dragon

Arrived at an alpine lake for a long relax on the grass banks, followed by a dive into the freezing water. No rush as the day’s miles were not long. Met Lunch Box, a dentist to be, who would later catch us a trout for dinner. Off again, and quite clean from the dip.

Lunch Box of Nashville Tennessee, PCT hiker with fish slayer

Lunch Box of Nashville Tennessee, PCT hiker with fish slayer

My pack singing and talking as I went. When heavily laden, a pack makes noises that sound amazingly human. Constantly I search for who called out only to realize I am alone. Conversely and perversely when someone actually does call out, I ignore them because they are my backpack.
Tollgate

Tollgate


Came across a stream that was thickly bedded with wild onions. Dinner perked up. Pulled into yet another meadow camp from a dentist’s office poster. You know the ones that inspire calm before the torture. The thought of dentists bringing to mind the tooth that is yet again in my pocket. The talk around the fire that night was of an ambitious plan for climbing Mt. Whitney and Forester Pass on the same day. To the night.
My eyes

My eyes

Day 39 – Ice in my water bottle & fighter jets overhead

June 10, 2013
25 miles today
Mile 741

Meadow of my coldness

Meadow of my coldness


The change is startling in its immediacy. The air is clearer, vision crisper, and all about is vivid. Julie Andrews comes to mind. Within, things change too. Just like when you return to a family reunion and find yourself falling into old roles, a return to the desert brings out my inner-kid, jokes, stories and all around goofiness. But the mountains are different. They instill a calm contentment that permeates my interactions. Perhaps I am even more adult like, though I resist even writing that.

Awoke, not true. Got up from a sleepless night only when the sun blessed my head. I had cowboy camped in a valley meadow at 8,600 ft. The bitterly cold air had hung low all night. Now it was in my bones as I drank from my water bottle clinking with ice. I whined to my compatriots who had all slept warmly. They, who had all grown up cold, smiled at the turning of the tables on the desert kid. I needed a plan, which in the end consisted of three steps to sleeping contentment. One, wear all the clothes I own to bed. Two, set up my tent every night to trap warm air. Three, figure out my sleeping quilt. Red and I looked it over. Turns out I’ve been sleeping with it upside down. Cue chuckle. Also discovered lots of bells and whistles on it that should provide more warmth. Optimism returneth.

Picture a seismograph in a big earthquake. That’s what an elevation gain and loss chart looks like in the High Sierras. Now strap on a heavily laden pack and you understand the day. The newfound adult calm is fortuitous; else there would be temper tantrums. So why do it? If you could trade eyes with me you would trade places too. In a heartbeat.

Headed down the trail I was lost, lost, lost in my thoughts. I glanced to my left and six feet away was Orbit lost her own thoughts. Problem was she was headed in exactly the opposite direction. It startled me tremendously. Where the hell is she going? Wait a minute, where the hell am I going? What’s going on? Turned out to be just a particularly tight switchback. The whole day was like that. Thoughts to awe, as the miles rolled past. Future courses of action, that had been drowning in murkiness, finally emerged from the muck. I now know what had to be done. Back to the awe.

Turtle shell flowers

Turtle shell flowers

Land-based water lilies

Land-based water lilies

Climbed to 10,600 feet and looked down at the drained and much abused Owens Valley where L.A. is a vulgar world. Our vantage point was a sheer drop that Slack dreamed of BASE-jumping from. I just remembered youthful urges. Later we summited a minor little peak and were rewarded with a wobbly, rocking boulder the size of a VW bug. Slack got on and I tried to rock him off the mountain. He was disappointed with my failure.

Owens River Valley

Owens River Valley


All day I experienced the fear the Taliban must endure. Over 25 sorties of fighter jets zipped directly overhead. Some of the flybys were 200 feet off ground. They sizzled the mountain and our senses, as we ducked repeatedly. I counted the bombs on their wings to pass the time. The hot-dogging was wild as I watched them doing barrel rolls through tight mountain passes. The training purpose was obvious. Those mountains were cousins to the ranges of Afghanistan. Hope they all come back.

A six-mile descent, that did an excellent imitation of 12 miles, brought us to a meadow with stream.

Arrived at 7 PM and declared home. The test of sleep ever-looming.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 38 – Scorpions-0, Hikers-1 and a swimming hole

June 9, 2013
14 miles today
Mile 716

Kennedy Meadows is a fly-catcher, sticky tape kind of place. Some hikers had been there for over a week. With only 200 residents, services were limited, but what was there was directed at hikers and extending their stay. All you can eat options abounded. Having an open tab at the General Store allowed purchasing on impulse without pain. A large deck encouraged loafing. And, finally, packs engorged with heavy bear vaults and multiple days of food discouraged a return to the trail. Lethargy crept.

Awoke on a patch of dirt behind the General Store, knocked a large scorpion out of my shoe (they seem to have an affinity for me) and completed my morning adulations. Went down to the deck to wait for the sun and all you can eat pancakes. The crowd, a mix of locals and hikers was large and the wait long. By the time I had finished my pancakes it was time for a hamburger lunch and a beer. Time was abusive and our departure began its failure. Around two we rallied, closed our painful tabs and made a run for it. Four of us made it out. Doc, who was right behind me, got sucked back into the vortex and has not been seen since.

Welcome to the high Sierras

Welcome to the high Sierras


Climbed to a swimming hole for a last dip before a 2,000 ft ascent into the Sierras. While everyone was in swimming I hid two perfume strips in Orbit’s pack that I had torn from a Vanity Fair. Being completely opposed to all convention it was a cruel trick to play on her. The smell of the unwashed does not offend, but the stench of perfume turns her stomach. Her laughs of disgust when she finally discovered both strips rang through the mountain air.

Self-discovery is part of the trail. As I hiked a sudden flash of insight stopped me dead in my tracks. I backed up two steps and looked down and saw what my shoeprints looked like for the first time. Nice to recognize something that had been following me for over a month.

And then there it was. Over a rise, and a gigantic, majestic meadow reached up and grabbed all my senses at once. A door closed on the desert and opened on the mountains.

Big Sky

Big Sky


We were in the High Sierras at last.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 37 – Sulphur water and melted soles

June 8, 2013
22 miles today
Mile 702

Left camp intent on arriving and Kennedy Meadows, which is the gateway to the High Sierras. Most hikers are happy to leave the desert and head into the mountains, but I for one will miss her. The desert can be an oppressor if you reject or disdain her. But if you embrace her, she is an avid and faithful lover who will always reward your senses. As she did, yet again, this time.

Red Beard's breakfast

Red Beard’s breakfast

Signed the trail register, at the start of the hike, by writing a note to a fellow hiker behind me. I questioned the speed of his hike and insulted his statehood. Trail registers act as a bush telegraph. You can leave message for those behind you and inform yourself about those in front of you. It gives the Internet a run for its money.

The first spring was located in the ruins of an old mining camp. The water smelled of sulfur, but the Gatorade vendor was not in residence so alternatives were nil. As we filtered, Slack sat down next to a small bush. This annoyed the rattlesnake in residence. Luckily the snake decided to move on rather than display his displeasure by putting the nip on Slack. ‘Twas a close call though.

Climbed up to a pass and then headed downhill for one last visit to the desert. Passed through yet another big burn. The soil here is pure sand. After a fire, all that remains are leftover pine stalks. It ends up looking like the Sahara with worms coming up for air. I mulled over two rumors I had heard. One, that after our bear run-in, yet more bears had shown up. Two, that the Powerhouse fire would be contained on June 10, after scorching 50 square miles. Forests seem to have a hard time of it here.

Arrived, after 17 miles of hot trek, at the Kern River. A beaver had dammed the river creating a post-card swimming hole. Accomplished bathing and laundry with one jump. Doc reappeared with six liters of Gatorade that he had back humped five miles from Kennedy Meadows, once again demonstrating his dedication to the needs of his patients. A pool party ensued.

Kern River meets beaver dam

Kern River meets beaver dam


And then to Kennedy Meadows where I opened a tab at the General Store and picked up various packages. The main package included a bear vault to store food in, new shoes, and an ice axe and crampons. Not enough snow this year to justify the axe and crampons, so they’re headed back. But I think I’ll hold on to the bear vault due to recent company.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 36 – Bear 1 – Hikers 0

June 7, 2013
30 miles today
Mile 680

Awoke back in California to the shout of pancakes. Ate eight. Had to let out the hip belt yet again. Am five pounds over my starting weight of 193. While everyone around me continues to lose weight I continue my march to obesity. Here is my list of excuses, what do you think? I’m 49 so my metabolism is slower. I’m a runner, so walking is not physically demanding and thus my body is not burning that many calories. Couscous and oatmeal, my dinner and breakfast every day, are incredibly fattening. I eat like a starved hog every time I’m in town. Or my desert body is in insulation panic about heading into the snow of the High Sierras. The whole subject is curious.

Learned about a new lottery system for rafting the Grand Canyon on a private river trip, from a hiker named Bagpipe. Note to future.

Left camp heavily loaded internally and externally. Carrying the full complement of 3.5 liters of water as there are springs in five and nineteen miles respectively. Unfortunately, for my spine, the first spring glows with uranium. Which makes it even more unattractive than the aptly named “Dirty Diaper Spring” I passed yesterday. The climb from Walker Pass, named for Senor Walker, an early 1800’s explorer who stumbled upon it, was long, hot, and stunning. Made my way past other pancake laden hikers who I had so recently had the pleasure of their company. Doc, who is supercharged by pancakes and has a hike total of 54, took off never to be seen again.

Arrived at the spring after 19 miles ready for a cocktail. Skipped filtering and drank straight. At the spring for the soon to be famous Battle Royale of PCT 2013 were Toots Mcgoots. Orbit, Slack and Red Beard. Lunches were spread. A relax started. Commotion. A young male bear cub joined the party, he being hungrier than us. Hikers scattered. Smokey headed straight for Slack’s pack and began to tear into it. I yelled at him and he charged me. In my defense I heroically fell on my ass. That panicked Smokey and he fled up the tree two feet in front of me. Karma and Halfway showed up, the latter just missed being hit by a shit bomb while passing under the tree.

Smoky arrives without lunch invitation.

Smoky arrives without lunch invitation.

Orbit vs Bear

Orbit vs Bear

Bear in tree

Bear in tree

A quick strategy session was concluded. Some would watch for Mama bear, whose potential arrival would escalate the situation dangerously. Others would fill water bottles. And the rest would stand guard with hiking poles. Then we would retreat as quickly as possible. But the withdrawal was impossible without water for the coming miles.

Bear wins

Bear wins


With our food packed away, and all of us up by the spring, Smokey came down from his lofty perch and renewed the assault. Now Smokey probably weighed all of 70 lbs, but when he charges and you see the length of his nails up close, one feels the odds are in his favor. The hiking poles and shouts in various languages, however seemed to even things up. Smokey’s repeated charges were all repulsed and we were able to escape with no casualties. Though one of Toot’s socks was half eaten. We placed a note on the trail warning other hikers of the standoff to come and returned to the climb through the Animal Kingdom.

After Smokey we passed deer, rabbits, squirrels and snakes, including a large Western Diamondback just off the path. It was a wonderful day that couldn’t get better until it did.

After 30 dusty miles some angelic soul left a case of black stout cooling in a stream at our finishing point. Even begin to try and imagine that first meeting of stout and windpipe.

Good night Smokey.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 35 – Spaghetti and blue mini skirts

June 6, 2013
20 miles
Mile 650

Early climb

Early climb


Opened my eyes to the immediate destination, a 1,500-foot climb to the top of a peak. Not much light as 4:45 a.m. is still in the grip of night, but enough to get going, the coolness providing a quick push to the summit. Once on the crest, the path turned humanitarian and rolled along pleasantly through pine forests that scented the path in a way air freshener companies could only dream of.
The Oracle

The Oracle


The mood, as it has been on every day of the walk to date, was one of low-grade euphoria. All was clicking physically and mentally. The body had its job to do but the mind was free to wander off trail. Endorphins released as needed. Sights appeared at three mph, which provides a surplus of time to digest them. Distractions are limited to only those that you can create. Minor adjustments to pace manufacture opportunities to socialize or alone time. It’s just a great way to go about your day. Walk down the trail, nothing else. How can anybody get irritated doing that?
Yogi trail magic kitchen

Yogi trail magic kitchen


An ever-increasing descent brought me to Walker Pass. Rumors of a food spread laid out quickened the pace. Known in the vernacular as trail magic, some people just have nothing to do other than walk away from their normal lives, drive into the mountain and feed a bunch of hungry hikers. Cue my applause. Au-natural hiker was there, wearing a flash blue mini that did his legs justice. Now known as Coppertone, he was as compassionate as ever. Also there was Yogi, a genuine trail celebrity, who had authored a well-known guidebook to the PCT, as well as a number of others. The order upon arrival, “Eat and drink till you no longer can,” which I did for the next six hours. When the last of the spaghetti ran out, I still could, so off we went on our own and made Pad Thai. The ingredients were scrounged, none of them Thai, but as I closed my eyes, I could see the streets of Bangkok.

So ended a fine day that began gazing at a summit and ended as I fell asleep on the sand at Kho Phangan Beach. Kop Khun Krap.

Sleeping in Thailand.

Sleeping in Thailand.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 34 – Chasing the clouds

June 5, 2013
22 miles
Mile 630

Today was dominated by heat, the kind that oppresses one’s enthusiasm. The path started at altitude but freefell into the desert below. Two water caches were located at mile 615 and 630. Translated into hiking, this meant walking seven miles to drink up once again. The ever-present competition of desire that every backpacker must resolve: Thirst vs. weight being the critical decision of the day. Too much water will break your back. Too little water will break your mother’s heart.

All day the temperature rose. For whatever reason, there seemed to be a large body of hikers clumped together on this particular day. I was able to observe various heat coping strategies which seemed to come down into one of two camps. Hole up in the shade and wait for the heat to pass or keep moving toward the water source. The vast majority of hikers fell into the former. Thus every large Joshua tree, which provides the only available shade, in this neck of the desert, seemed to house a waiting hiker. Personally, I fall into the later, as I usually go light on water, I really have no choice. I have to keep moving, but I don’t mind it. Moving across the desert, a hostile sun, under hat, water in hand, racing against time can bring a sense of contentment and self-containment. Arrivals confirm your calculation of thirst to weight. Beats TV anyway.

As I neared the end of the day, I found myself descending along a very long ridge. The sun continued its pounding. Suddenly the lights were dimmed. Curious, I looked up and saw an honest to God small cloud. My personal sunshade. It was also making its way toward Canada along the same path I was. Immediately, I felt a deep love. I quickened my pact to stay under my benefactor. The wind strengthened its push. Soon I found myself in the ridiculous position of running across the face of a mountain trying to catch a black circle. Just as I was about to repossess my love, she was murdered by the sun. Shakespeare would have captured my grief well.

Fell asleep, far from any artificial light, watching the big screen for shooting stars.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 33 – Attack of the Stealth Bomber

June 4, 2013
25 miles today
Mile 608
Day 33_view from bed 450px

Woke up early, alone to writing. Laying in a meadow of view to the sky was open. Suddenly a B-2 Stealth Bomber made a pass through the dawns light. Felt like an exposed Taliban.

The rest of the morning was the mundane pack up, food up, water up and throwing an ever-increasing diameter of pebbles at Doc’s head in order to assist him in exiting sleep, his favorite state of consciousness.

Met a hiker on their first day hiking the PCT. They planned to go to Canada, but were carrying 40 pounds of food and water in addition to their gear. Tried to suggest a lightening of the load without being obnoxious. Probably failed.

As the next spring was 17 miles on, I loaded up with 3.5 liters of water. The sun was already hot to the touch. Took off in good spirits, though my knee remained in a foul humor.

Fire line

Fire line


Soon came to fresh burn. The fire had been a large one and probably within the last two years. The new plant growth, what little there was of it, being less than 4″ high. Tried to recreate the drama in my head. The fire started in some trees and was blown north. I surmised this because the fire line cut starkly along a distinct line through the forest. A road to a wind farm kept the flames form moving east. As the path passed west of the wildfire, it was obvious the firefighters had used the PCT as their skirmish line, their victory apparent. But the fire, with wind as its ally, carried the day with its remaining directional outlet. For the next hour I trudged north through a cooked wasteland. A hastily dug fire break with heavy machinery being the dam that finally stopped the advance.

Passed a heat prostrated hiker lying in the shade waiting for the dark. Curious how the sun affects different hikers in such a variety of ways. Pushed on to the spring. Arrived with my last sip of water a distant memory. That first gulp of icy spring water defied adjectives. A long siesta followed by the last eight miles of perfect, gentle, down sloping pine beds. Our camp was next to yet another water fountain of the earth, with a picnic table to boot. Shared our camp with Papa Bear and his son, Chris. The conversation was good and centered around a country to the north that was still a ways off.

Sun throws in the towel

Sun throws in the towel


Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 32 – Switchbacks & more switchbacks

June 3 , 2013
25 miles today
Mile 583

One last gorge and then back to the trailhead. Said our farewells to Mr. O’D and began to climb out of the heat. Two mule deer were not impressed with our intrusion. As always, my hiking was low energy after a zero. Plodding along past endless windmills did nothing to lift my spirits. Still, progress was made. The goal was Highway 58 where a water cache was placed. The distance between the start and 58 being 8 miles, on my one-month trail anniversary.

From the PCT handbook, “The shortest route between two points is a switchback.” The engineers who laid out the trail were zealous in their observation of this truism. Back to the Handbook, “A longer switchback is superior to a shorter switchback,” and finally this gem; “The longest switchback of all will win the engineer accolades.” I contemplated these unique design philosophies as I attempted to reach Hwy 58 via a series of switchbacks.

“Gentlemen,” I yelled back through the up swell of history, “your goal is that highway right there, let us go directly to it.” Their response: “A straight line would encourage you to focus on your objective and arrive at it shortly, which is nonsensical. Much better 
to move parallel to your objective repeatedly gaining some eight feet of descent at each turn, after a football field length traverse,” your objective never a distraction. Just mindlessly moving back and forth across the face of a mountain suppressing the maddening urge to hop from switchback to the next straight down the mountain. The PCT is 2,660 miles long. A crow flying from the start to the finish of the PCT would cover 1,165 miles. That’s around 1,500 miles of switchback. Engineers are marvels, perhaps not familiar with the actual location of Canada.

Mr. O’D drove up the 58 to meet us at the water cache. Lying underneath his truck I pondered the charisma of shade. Soon it was time to begin the big climb up from the pass and back into the mountains. But first I had to walk along the freeway for a mile through the remnants of a disposable culture. According to Mr. O’D, who used to collect cans, the five most common cans tossed from cars are in order of commonality. 1) Budweiser, 2) Coke, 3) Coors, 4) Pepsi, and 5) Miller. Now you know.

Arrived in camp, spent from carrying a pack loaded with 6 days of food and 17 hours of water. To take that pack off at the end of the day held commonality with an orgasm. Perhaps even superiority.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!

Day 31 – Mr. O’D and remembrances of times past

June 2, 2013
0 miles
558 miles total

The passing trains of Mojave called me to consciousness. As today would be a day of non-advancement I was slow to move. I mulled over the day to come. Usually zeros are for complete rest, but Mojave is unusual as is our host, Jim O’Donnell. Why not dedicate the day to seeing the Mojave region the way I saw it growing up as a kid. The itinerary solidified.

Our host, Jim O'Donnell

Our host, Jim O’Donnell


Some background. Mr. O’D was my teacher in junior high. Math to be exact. A subject that I would comfortably fall into the bottom five percent of any given range of students. Yet somehow Mr. O’D figured out a way to make me learn, and grasp that horrible subject.

But it was so much more than that. Mr. O’D taught me that it was OK to live a life outside every conceivable norm and have a hell of a time doing it. Words will never capture him, but ten minutes with him will enlighten. So do yourself a favor if you’re ever waylaid in Mojave, stop by the only donut shop in town and savor the show.

Mr. O’D is also an explorer and herpetologist. He took me, and other kids, all over the Western United States/Mexico exploring and catching snakes. We took risks that would be impossible in today’s culture of litigation. Why not give my friends, who are from every region of the States except the Southeast, a tour of those days?

So off we went. First, we explored the commercial plane dumping grounds of the Mojave Airport as well as its new spaceport where for $250,000 you too can touch space. Next we swung through California City where I had actually lived. The third largest city in California area-wise, it was set up to be land fleece for gullible East Coast investors. Own a piece of the California dream for a couple grand, even if your lot is miles from the middle of nowhere. To Cantil, where a shift in the winds is rapidly swallowing one house at a time in new sand dunes. There Mr. O’D lived until it became untenable.

Downtown Randsburg

Downtown Randsburg


On to Randsburg and Joburg, two tiny mining towns that hold on, beating off ghosts that want to occupy. There we ate banana splits at a soda fountain and shot pool at “The Joint” whose 100-year-old proprietor and barkeep had just passed.
Mine exit.

Mine exit.

Nearby we tracked down a mine whose tunnels I had explored extensively as a kid. Its entrances had been sealed—liability again, but there is always a way in. And there was. Slack, Orbit, Doc and Red Beard got a taste of the bowels. On to a vertical mine shaft with a twelve-second-rock drop. Math says that is 1,400 ft. I say a hell of a long way.

Back to Cal. City the back way, always the back way, where we stumbled upon an abandoned house and mining works. Going through the detritus of a life lived and trying to create a story from it is a great pleasure. Yet another mineshaft was discovered for more fun and games. I will never tire of this stuff.

After pizza we hit the back roads hunting for snakes and kangaroo rats that prefer the warmth of asphalt. How to do it? Pile everyone all over the truck in any manner—they can hold on. Drive slowly down the roads all eyes peeled. When someone sees something they scream out the identifying word, and the brakes are hit apothekeschweizer.de. Everyone piles out and tries to put the grabs on it. The catchings were slim, but the fun was not. Maybe hunting was out because of the otherworldly smoke haze that blanketed the sun throughout the day, a reminder that the Powerhouse fire was up to 25,000 acres with 2,000 firefighters fighting the fight.

We arrived back in Mojave, well after midnight, exhausted from our restful zero day.

Sometimes fun is just the better option.

Thanks again, Mr. O’D.

Steve Halteman
On the Pacific Crest Trail
Hiking the PCT for the Kids of Escuela Verde

If you’d like to help out and donate, please click here!